The Eastern Conference has been the league’s weak sister ever since Michael Jordan retired, but last year it became a laughingstock. Only one team won more than 50 games and its champion, Cleveland, was humiliated in four games in the Finals.

But fear not, East fans, because this is a far better conference than it was a year earlier. The arrival of star talent like Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Jason Richardson, and Zach Randolph from the West means that this year’s East is likely to play at close to parity to the other conference. Though its elite still can’t hang with the top three or four teams in the West, this will be a much deeper and more competitive conference, and one that will prove tough for defending champion Cleveland to vanquish a second time.

Garnett and Allen have much of the buzz, as both went to Boston this summer and will join Paul Pierce to give the Celtics an All-Star trio. That trio is backed up by a very weak supporting cast, however, so Boston may not be the shoo-in that some think. The Pistons are always a threat, too, after five straight trips to the conference finals, but ultimately the rising talent of the Chicago Bulls may prevail this time around. For each team, I’ve included the starting five and each player’s Player Efficiency Rating (PER) for last season. PER is a tool I invented that measures each player’s per-minute statistical performance, with the league average set at 15.0.

ATLANTIC DIVISION

BOSTON CELTICS

STRENGTH: Star power. With Garnett and Allen joining Pierce to provide three All-Stars in the starting five, scoring won’t be a problem — especially late in the game, where it’s impossible to double-team all three scoring threats. If they stay healthy, the Celtics will score in bunches.

WEAKNESS: Center. Boston’s depth is an issue all over, but nowhere more than in the middle. Kendrick Perkins is a limited banger and, behind him, vet Scot Pollard can’t stay healthy. Garnett may be forced to man the middle if those two can’t deliver, but the slender star is much more comfortable as power forward.

X-FACTOR: Tony Allen. The high-flying wing was having a breakout year in 2006–07 before blowing out his knee on a meaningless after-the-whistle dunk. If he can recover his old burst by midyear, the Celtics’ bench might not be so bad, and the hopes for an Eastern Conference title will improve greatly.

Predicted Record: 51–31

TORONTO RAPTORS

STRENGTH: Shooting. The “Euraptors” play like they’re in the Italian League, spreading the floor and leaving the middle open. Newcomer Jason Kapono led the league in 3-point percentage for Miami last year, while off guard Anthony Parker and big men Chris Bosh and Andrea Bargnani also are deadly from outside.

WEAKNESS: Rebounding. The Raps are physically frail and not terribly athletic, leading one to wonder if they’ll be decimated on the glass. Bargnani and Bosh both lack muscle, and the backcourt isn’t going to offer much help either. Rugged forward Jorge Garbajosa could make a difference, but he’s struggled to come back from a leg injury and may need more surgery.

X-FACTOR: Bargnani. The top overall pick in the 2006 draft, Bargnani had a mediocre regular season and was even worse in the playoffs. That said, he showed flashes of stardom, and his ability to shoot from long range at his size is a rare gift. The Raps won’t repeat as division champs unless he takes a big step forward.

Predicted Record: 40–42

NEW JERSEY NETS

STRENGTH: Starting backcourt. With stars like Jason Kidd and Vince Carter, New Jersey’s guard tandem takes a backseat to nobody. One underrated aspect is their rebounding — both are among the top rebounders at their position, partly making up for a glaringly unproductive frontcourt.

WEAKNESS: Backcourt depth. Kidd and Carter better stay healthy all season, because behind them things get ugly fast. Backup point guard Marcus Williams is a me-first gunner who doesn’t defend (and he’s injured too), while shooting guard Antoine Wright has been a first-round bust.

X-FACTOR: Josh Boone and Sean Williams. The Nets get little from their frontcourt, and that doesn’t figure to change much even with Nenad Krstic returning from injury. However, these two kids might be able to provide some oomph. Boone showed a nice touch around the rim as a rookie last year, while Williams is a high-energy guy who could benefit from Kidd’s ability to run the break.

Predicted Record: 39–43

NEW YORK KNICKS

STRENGTH: Inside scoring. With low-post bruiser Zach Randolph joining high-percentage shot-makers Eddy Curry and David Lee, and a cast of penetrating guards on the outside, the Knicks might lead the league in points in the paint. Some worry about Randolph and Curry sharing the block, but it should be okay: Zach can play outside too.

WEAKNESS: Defense. The Knicks were a bad defensive team last year, but they might be god-awful this time around. Randolph is one of the few big men in the league who is a lazier defender than Curry, leaving the Knicks’ interior D as almost certainly the NBA’s worst. And the guards aren’t much to look at either.

X-FACTOR: Nate Robinson. After a very promising preseason, one can start to wonder if the Knicks’ most immature player has grown up a little and is ready to take on a larger role. He can certainly score in bunches and pressure the ball, and he might be among the league’s top six men this year.

Predicted Record: 38-44

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS

STRENGTH: Transition offense. Andre Miller is one of the league’s best open-court point guards, and he has a great running mate in highflying Andre Iguodala. Big man Sam Dalembert also runs the floor well, while subs Louis Williams and Rodney Carney thrive in the opencourt game too.

WEAKNESS: Halfcourt offense. They’ll need to get out and run as much as possible, because the Sixers just don’t have enough firepower in the halfcourt. Iguodala figures to be the go-to guy, but the team is short on shooters to space the floor and lacks a quality post threat.

X-FACTOR: Jason Smith. The rookie from Colorado State will be given every opportunity to earn a starting frontcourt job, with the hope that the 7-footer’s shooting and athleticism can make up for a lack of experience and strength. He and fellow rookie Thaddeus Young are part of a Sixers future that looks much more exciting than its present.

Predicted record: 21–61

CENTRAL DIVISION

CHICAGO BULLS

STRENGTH: Defense. The Bulls led the NBA last year in Defensive Efficiency (my measure of a team’s points allowed per 100 possessions) and might be even better this year. Ben Wallace has lost a step but remains a force, while second-year pro Tyrus Thomas is a shot-blocking machine. The guards aren’t chopped liver either — Kirk Hinrich made second-team All-Defense last year.

WEAKNESS: Interior scoring. The Bulls rely on jumpers and rarely score in the paint, most because they rarely attack the basket. Star forward Luol Deng is most comfortable shooting jumpers off the dribble, as are Hinrich, Ben Gordon, and Andres Nocioni — the team’s four primary scorers.

X-FACTOR: Thomas. Is he ready to deliver on the promise he showed last year? Or will he be consumed by the attitude and cockiness that he also amply displayed during his rookie campaign? The starting power forward job is his for the taking, but he’ll need to do some growing up first.

Predicted Record: 55–27

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS

STRENGTH: No. 23. The Cavs have a lot of problems but as long as LeBron James is on their team they’re still going to win 50 games and make a run at the conference title. James looked better than ever this summer when he showcased an improved jumper, a scary thought for NBA teams that have conceded the long-range J in the past.

WEAKNESS: Backcourt. Cleveland gets shockingly little from its guards, leaving James as the de facto point guard and forcing him to expend absurd amounts of energy just running the offense. Worse yet, they don’t provide the one thing the Cavs truly need: long-range shooting to help space the floor for James.

X-FACTOR: Drew Gooden. With Anderson Varejao staging a holdout, the pressure is on Gooden to become a true two-way star. Nobody doubts his talent but, in the past, mental errors have prevented him from being more effective, especially on defense. As along as Varejao is out, Gooden will need to be much more consistent and dependable.

Predicted Record: 54–28

DETROIT PISTONS

STRENGTH: Bench. Did I really just say that? Detroit’s second unit has been a weakness for the past half decade, but that’s no longer the case. Rookie Rodney Stuckey looks like the real deal in the backcourt, while Jason Maxiell, Nazr Mohammed, and Amir Johnson provide more than enough depth up front.

WEAKNESS: Star power. Winning 50 isn’t as easy as these guys have made it look the past couple years — with no superstars, everybody needs to be healthy and playing near the top of their game. That’s been the case the past few years, but with three starters on the wrong side of 30, it won’t last forever.

X-FACTOR: Rasheed Wallace. One of the big reasons the Pistons lost to Cleveland last year was Wallace’s deteriorating relationship with Flip Saunders, one that led to several defensive breakdowns in the crucial Game 5. It also appears that his teammates have taken on his habit of whining at the refs on every call, to their detriment. You’re 33, ‘Sheed. Time to grow up.

Predicted Record: 48–34

MILWAUKEE BUCKS

STRENGTH: Shooting. Few teams can stroke it like this one. All five starters are threats from 15 feet, and even the power forwards (Charlie Villanueva and rookie Yi Jianlian) have to be defended out to the 3-point line. The ace, of course, is southpaw Michael Redd, one of the best catch-and-shoot players in basketball.

WEAKNESS: Defense. The Bucks were a terrible defensive team a year ago and there’s little reason to think they’ll improve much this year. While the return of Bobby Simmons and addition of Desmond Mason should help the perimeter D a bit, Milwaukee has nobody up front who can defend the rim or shut down opposing post players.

X-FACTOR: Andrew Bogut. He looked heavy and slow last year and had a disappointing second season, and the Bucks are expecting much more after taking him first overall in 2005. He’s a brilliant passer, and if he can become a scoring threat in the post it makes Milwaukee’s shooters that much more dangerous.

Predicted Record: 35–47

INDIANA PACERS

STRENGTH: Defense. Indiana doesn’t have a lot going for it, but at least these guys will guard you. Jermaine O’Neal was arguably the best defensive player in the league last season, while new coach Jim O’Brien is a defense-first guy who should keep the Pacers defending at a high level.

WEAKNESS: Wing scoring. Indiana has a glaring lack of scorers, and nowhere is that more evident than on the wings. Mike Dunleavy is a fish out of water at shooting guard but is forced to play there due to a lack of other options, while small forward Danny Granger is a passive non-scorer. The roster lacks both a knockdown shooter and a dynamic playmaker, so expect long droughts.

X-FACTOR: Troy Murphy. Indy’s starting power forward really struggled after being traded from Golden State, but playing for O’Brien could give him a new lease on life. O’Brien loves to space the floor with shooters and let them rip, and Murphy has a sweet outside shot that pulls opposing power forwards away from the rim. He could have a big year.

Predicted Record: 28–54

SOUTHEAST DIVISION

ORLANDO MAGIC

STRENGTH: Frontline scoring. The Magic go 6-foot-10, 6-foot-10, 6-foot-11 up front, and all three guys can fill it up. Leading the way is manchild Dwight Howard, who looked more overpowering than ever in preseason. Freeagent pickup Rashard Lewis is a deadly shooter who can also score in the post, and don’t sleep on small forward Hedo Turkoglu — another 6-foot-10-inch guy who can stroke it.

WEAKNESS: Guard play. The Magic were second in the league in turnovers last season (I won’t remind you who was first), as point guards Jameer Nelson and Carlos Arroyo struggled to get the ball to the right places. They also aren’t great shooters, and the same issues exist at shooting guard, where journeyman Keith Bogans will be the opening day starter.

X-FACTOR: J.J. Redick. The Magic really want to space the floor with shooters around Howard, and have been desperately hoping that last year’s first-round pick will take over the starting job at shooting guard. But after an up-and-down preseason, he lost out to Bogans and will come off the bench.

Predicted Record: 49–33

MIAMI HEAT

STRENGTH: Star power. When you put Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O’Neal together out on the court, it often doesn’t matter how bad the supporting cast is. Wade was the best player in the league last year until he got hurt, while O’Neal remains a dominating force on the nights he’s healthy and out of foul trouble.

WEAKNESS: Durability. Wade and O’Neal combined to play only 91 games last season, and Wade already will miss the start of this season after undergoing off-season shoulder surgery. Shaq’s conditioning is a question mark too, and Miami doesn’t have nearly enough depth to overcome their absence.

X-FACTOR: Jason Williams. Still a quality player when he’s in one piece, Williams’s long-range shooting and point guard savvy are important if this team is to get very far. Unfortunately, he appears to be breaking down, with knee problems limiting him last season. If he can’t go, Laker castoff Smush Parker gets the call.

Predicted Record: 45–37

ATLANTA HAWKS

STRENGTH: Front line. The Hawks now have as deep and talented a frontcourt as anyone. Power forward Josh Smith is an emerging star who went gangbusters at the end of last season, while rookie Al Horford adds muscle up front and could start at center. Third-year forward Marvin Williams, secondyear pro Shelden Williams, holdover center Zaza Pachulia, and ace sixth man Josh

WEAKNESS: Point guard. Speedy Claxton was a disaster last year and is already hurt, veteran Anthony Johnson looked wanting in the preseason, and rookie Acie Law may not be ready. That leaves the Hawks back to counting on veteran Tyronn Lue, but he’s had trouble staying healthy and prefers coming off the bench.

X-FACTOR: Marvin Williams. The second overall pick two years ago has done little to justify his selection so far, but picked up his play after the break last year. The Hawks need him to do more than just shoot 20-footers — he has to be aggressive and crash the boards. If so, this team will be tough to stop.

Predicted Record: 42–40

CHARLOTTE BOBCATS

STRENGTH: Wing scoring. The addition of Jason Richardson fills in the team’s most glaring weakness from a year ago: a lack of production at shooting guard. He’ll alternate with high-flying Gerald Wallace, who is arguably the league’s most underrated player, as the go-to guy. Off the bench, sharpshooter Matt Carroll, rookie Jared Dudley, and sneaky Argentine Walter Herrmann provide more options.

WEAKNESS: Frontcourt depth. With Sean May out for the season, Charlotte’s frontcourt is severely lacking. Untested second-year pro Ryan Hollins may end up starting at center, while the other options (Primoz Brezec, Othella Harrington) are equally unsightly.

X-FACTOR: Raymond Felton. With Brevin Knight departed, the point guard job is all Felton’s. He’ll need to show he can be more of a distributor and improve on last year’s struggles from the field (38.4%); he also needs to stay healthy, because backup Jeff McInnis is awful.

Predicted Record: 34–48

WASHINGTON WIZARDS

STRENGTH: Perimeter scoring. Washington’s “Big Three” of Gilbert Arenas, Caron Butler, and Antawn Jamison are a handful, as each has range out to the 3-point line but enough quickness to take you off the dribble. Throw in wily sixth man Antonio Daniels and sharpshooting forward Darius Songaila, and few teams can hurt you more from the perimeter.

WEAKNESS: Defense. This might be the league’s worst defensive team, especially now that backup center Etan Thomas is out for the season. Washington has paid scant attention to this end of the floor the past few seasons, and if the shots don’t fall it will bite them.

X-FACTOR: Brendan Haywood. He’s had a testy relationship with coach Eddie Jordan, but with Thomas out for the season, there’s no choice any longer — Haywood has to play, and he has to stay motivated and productive all season. Few think he can deliver, but the ability is there.

Predicted Record: 33–49